A Prominent Threat To The Chinese-Uighur Relations: Discovery Of The Tarim
Mummies
The
discovery of Tarim Mummies shocked the Chinese authorities, because these
findings suggested that an European like community had lived in the desert
wastes of western China (Mallory-Mair 7). This was prominent, because there is
an ongoing conflict between the Chinese and the Uighurs about the Xinjiang
province. The Uighurs had been telling folk stories to their young for
generations, about their ancestors having Caucasian features and coming from somewhere
else(O’Brien 2). These findings strengthened the Uighurs claims to some degree,
but created serious problems in the region politics. This paper argues that the
discovery of the Tarim Mummies pose a real threat to Chinese-Uighur relations.
For
a contemporary nation, their pre-modern history is very important, because the
modern nation can find its’ common rights, myths and memories, public culture
and historic territory in its’ past (Smith 2). This gives the people a sense of
identity and helps them have common interests. In the case of the Uighurs, they
are the largest Turkic group indigenous to Xinjiang (Ablet Kamalov 34). Thus,
they claim that the mummies found are their ancestors and the mummies’ history
is their archaic history. These claims are prominent, because they back up the
Uighurs in their freedom movement/fight. These claims repel the Chinese notion
of nation which is “all people ever lived and living in China are part of a
united Chinese nation” (Kamalov). The Uighurs are arguing that they have been
in the Xinjiang area for more than 1250 years and that the Chinese are
newcomers, with a mere 250 year past in the region. As a result, the Uighurs
demand freedom from China and the Chinese respond with persecution and denial
from equal rights.
Another
thing to point out is that the discovery of the Tarim Mummies did not just stay
regional, it also had impacts on the global arena. These findings actuated the
global cooperations, mainly Western originated, to develop interests in the
region politics. Prior to this, the Uighur-Chinese relations did not gain the
attention it deserved by the global organizations/media. These organizations
because of their benefits usually support Uighur claims, which result in a fake
power feeling in the Uighur community. They fail to realize that the
organizations that support them are there for the benefits, not for the moral
issues. They want to weaken the Chinese in Central Asia, benefit from the
Uighur-Chinese relations and fill the power gap which the Soviets left after
their collapse. Whenever, the Chinese repress the Uighurs and commit human
right violations these supporters just turn a blind eye. Because of this
ignorant behaviour the Uighurs become more radical and this forces China to
take drastic measures, which result in more bloodshed. This process just makes
an everlasting peace harder and shows another reason the discoveries pose a
real threat to the Uighur-Chinese relations.
There
may be more than one way to overcome this threat, but this paper will argue the
one that seems the most peaceful. The two parties should meet in common terms.
The Uighurs should realize that China is one of the most powerful country in
the world and it is highly unlikely that they will give Uighurs freedom. The
fact that Xinjiang is the biggest province in China and contains rich oil
reserves does not help either. On the other hand, the Chinese should realize
that persecuting Uighurs and denying them from equal rights will just provoke
the Uighurs and cause larger revolts. This attitude towards the Uighurs’ will
not help in the solution of the problem. Also, this kind of behaviour will give
a bad reputation to the Chinese in the global arena, which is low enough. Thus,
the Chinese should give Uighurs equal rights and acknowledge their history. On
the other hand, the Uighurs should stop demanding for freedom and accept
Chinese governance, which will be much more beneficial concerning the rapid
improvement in Chinese economics.
From
the preceding paragraphs, it can be understood that the discoveries pose a
threat to the Chinese-Uighur relations, because nothing is more “real” than people
dying and being denied from equal rights. However, if the path of negotiation
and peace is chosen by both parties all hope is not lost
and an everlasting peace can be achieved.
Works Cited
Smith, Anthony. Nations and
Nationalism in a Global Era. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995. 1-7. Print.
O’Brien,
Ellen. “Mystery of the Mummies.” The Philadelphia Inquirer 12 Apr. 2006.
Print.
Mallory,
J.P. and Victor H. Mair. The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of
the
Earliest Peoples from the West. London: Thames and
Hudson. 7-8, 332. Print.
Kamalov,
Ablet. “Contested Histories of the Ughurs: The Chinese and Uyghur
Perspectives. n.d. Print.
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